Mitsuki Saito (齊藤 未月, Saitō Mitsuki, born 10 January 1999) is a Japanese footballer[2] who plays as a midfielder for Vissel Kobe in the J1 League. He played as a defensive midfielder early in his career.

Mitsuki Saito
Personal information
Full name Mitsuki Saito[1]
Date of birth (1999-01-10) 10 January 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Vissel Kobe
Number 16
Youth career
Fujisawa FC
0000–2016 Shonan Bellmare
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2022 Shonan Bellmare 112 (4)
2021Rubin Kazan (loan) 2 (0)
2022Gamba Osaka (loan) 26 (2)
2023Vissel Kobe (loan) 22 (0)
2024– Vissel Kobe 0 (0)
International career
2015 Japan U17 1 (0)
2016 Japan U18 3 (0)
2018 Japan U19 3 (0)
2019 Japan U20 4 (0)
2020– Japan U23 2 (0)
Medal record
Shonan Bellmare
Winner J.League Cup 2018
Representing  Japan
AFC U-19 Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2018
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 January 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 January 2020

Career

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Mitsuki Saito was promoted to top team from youth team of J1 League club Shonan Bellmare in 2016. He scored his first goal for the club on a 2-1 loss against V-Varen Nagasaki at the group stage of the 2018 J.League Cup.[3]

On 14 December 2020, he joined Russian Premier League club FC Rubin Kazan on a 1.5-year loan with an option to purchase.[4] On 16 February 2021 he was operated on due to an injury to ankle tendons, recovery was expected to last 4 months, he was not able to play for Rubin in the 2020–21 season.[5] Upon his recovery from injury, he made his debut for Rubin on 12 August 2021 in a Europa Conference League qualifier against the Polish club Raków Częstochowa. He substituted Hwang In-beom in the 106th minute in the extra time, as Rubin lost 0–1 and were eliminated from the competition.[6] He made his RPL debut for Rubin on 22 August 2021 in a game against FC Khimki, he substituted Darko Jevtić in the 81st minute.[7] On 31 August 2021, he was removed from Rubin's RPL squad once again.[8]

On 7 January 2022, he joined Gamba Osaka on loan until 31 January 2023.[9]

Career statistics

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Updated to 19 August 2023.[10][11]

Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Shonan Bellmare 2015 J1 League 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2016 5 0 1 1 5 0 11 1
2017 J2 League 30 0 2 0 32 0
2018 J1 League 18 1 2 0 8 1 28 2
2019 26 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 30 1
2020 33 2 1 0 34 2
Total 112 4 6 1 17 1 1 0 136 6
Rubin Kazan (loan) 2021–22 Russian Premier League 2 0 1 0 3 0
Gamba Osaka (loan) 2022 J1 League 26 2 2 0 3 0 31 2
Vissel Kobe (loan) 2023 J1 League 22 0 3 1 3 0 28 1
Career total 162 6 11 2 23 1 1 0 1 0 198 9

Honours

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Vissel Kobe

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: Japan" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
  2. ^ J.League Data Site
  3. ^ J.LEAGUE.JP, "Schedule & Results"
  4. ^ "В "РУБИН" НА ПРАВАХ АРЕНДЫ ПЕРЕШЕЛ МИЦУКИ САЙТО" (in Russian). FC Rubin Kazan. 14 December 2020.
  5. ^ "МИЦУКИ САЙТО УСПЕШНО ПРООПЕРИРОВАН" (in Russian). FC Rubin Kazan. 16 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Rubin v Raków game report". UEFA. 12 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Khimki v Rubin game report". Russian Premier League. 22 August 2021.
  8. ^ Mitsuki Saito at Russian Premier League
  9. ^ "齊藤 未月選手 期限付き移籍加入のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Gamba Osaka. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  10. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2019 (NSK MOOK)", 9 February 2019, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411628 (p. 106 out of 289)
  11. ^ Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "J1&J2&J3選手名鑑ハンディ版 2018 (NSK MOOK)", 7 February 2018, Japan, ISBN 978-4905411529 (p. 130 out of 289)
  12. ^ "神戸が悲願の初優勝!井出、武藤のゴールで名古屋に競り勝つ【速報:明治安田J1第33節】". J.League. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  13. ^ "神戸が連覇&2冠達成! 磐田は1年でJ2降格決定…得点王は24発アンデルソン・ロペス/J1最終節". Soccer King (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 December 2024.
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